Now it came about in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was by the river Chebar among those who had been made prisoners, that the heavens were made open and I saw visions of God.

The word of the Lord came to me, Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldaeans by the river Chebar and the hand of the Lord was on me there.

And in the heart of it were the forms of four living beings. And this was what they were like they had the form of a man.

And their feet were straight feet and the under sides of their feet were like the feet of oxen and they were shining like polished brass.

They went without turning, every one went straight forward.

And their wings were separate at the top two of the wings of every one were joined one to another, and two were covering their bodies.

And between the living beings it was like burning coals of fire, as if flames were going one after the other between the living beings and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went thunder-flames.

Now while I was looking at the four living beings, I saw one wheel on the earth, by the side of the living beings, for the four of them.

The four of them went straight forward without turning to one side.

And when the living beings went on, the wheels went by their side and when the living beings were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

When these went on, the others went and when these came to rest, the others came to rest and when these were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up by their side: for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.

Under the arch their wings were straight, one stretched out to another: every one had two wings covering their bodies on this side and two covering their bodies on that side.

And there was a voice from the top of the arch which was over their heads: when they came to rest they let down their wings.

And I saw it coloured like electrum, with the look of fire in it and round it, going up from what seemed to be the middle of his body and going down from what seemed to be the middle of his body I saw what was like fire, and there was a bright light shining round him.

And he said to me, Son of man, get up on your feet, so that I may say words to you.

And he said to me, Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to an uncontrolled nation which has gone against me: they and their fathers have been sinners against me even to this very day.

And they, if they give ear to you or if they do not give ear (for they are an uncontrolled people), will see that there has been a prophet among them.

And you are to give them my words, if they give ear to you or if they do not: for they are uncontrolled.

And looking, I saw a hand stretched out to me, and I saw the roll of a book in it

So they took Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early. They themselves did not go into the Praetorium, so that they might not become unclean, but might take the Passover.

They said to him in answer, If the man was not a wrongdoer we would not have given him up to you.

(That the word of Jesus might come true, pointing to the sort of death he would have.)

Jesus made answer, Do you say this of yourself, or did others say it about me?

Jesus said in answer, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom was of this world, my disciples would have made a good fight to keep me out of the hands of the Jews: but my kingdom is not here.

Pilate said to him, True? what is true? Having said this he went out again to the Jews and said to them, I see no wrong in him.

Then again they gave a loud cry, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was an outlaw.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped with cords.

And they kept coming and saying, Long life to the King of the Jews! And they gave him blows with their hands.

Then Jesus came out with the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, Here is the man!

And the Jews made answer, We have a law, and by that law it is right for him to be put to death because he said he was the Son of God.

And he went again into the Praetorium and said to Jesus, Where do you come from? But Jesus gave him no answer.

Jesus gave this answer: You would have no power at all over me if it was not given to you by God so that he who gave me up to you has the greater sin.

So when these words came to Pilate's ear, he took Jesus out, seating himself in the judge's seat in a place named in Hebrew, Gabbatha, or the Stone Floor.

Then they gave a loud cry, Away with him! away with him! to the cross! Pilate said to them, Am I to put your King to death on the cross? The chief priests said in answer, We have no king but Caesar.